Cornelia C. "Connie" Barnas

Cornelia "Connie" C. Barnas, age 62 of Waldorf, Maryland, died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family January 1, 2025, after a courageous 2-year battle with cancer.
Connie was born August 30, 1962, in Murrhardt, Germany, in the same home where her mother was born 24 years earlier. Once old enough to fly, Connie and her mom, Anneliese O. Cieslik, rejoined her dad, Albert P. Cieslik, in Canada and emigrated to the U.S. four years later. In 1972, she moved to Charles County, where she lived out the rest of her days.
Connie was in the first graduating class of McDonough High School in Pomfret, Md., in 1980, where she met her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Robbie. She teased him about being "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" in typing class because he was so fast – it was love at first type. They married in 1985 and brought two beautiful children into the world, Ashley and Michael.
Connie and Robbie attended Salisbury State College together where she earned her B.S. in Nursing and later passed the state boards for her Registered Nurse certification. She started her nursing career in the hospital, then spent the next 25 years in an OB/GYN private practice before God called her to become a school nurse where she spent the next 12 and final years of her nursing career. Nurse Connie healed countless children - physically and emotionally - at Dr. Mudd Elementary School, not only with her practical nursing skills, but also with her hugs, words of encouragement and sincere love for the kids. Connie truly loved working at the school, not only for the tremendous enduring friendships she made among the staff and teachers, but also seeing the positive impact of her work on the children for whom she cared. Often times, outside of school, children would recognize Nurse Connie and run to give her big hugs.
Connie loved her family second only to Jesus and had a gift for making those around her feel adored and treasured. She modeled love and motherhood in the way she and Robbie raised their kids, making them their best friends and top priority in life. Nothing gave her greater joy than spending time with her family and friends, which she did at every opportunity.
Connie was a Girl Scout troop leader, field trip chaperone and encourager of her kids going above and beyond on school projects. She sewed every Halloween costume her kids wore, and she longed for the day when she could do the same for her grandchildren. She was a master hostess, cook, was extremely proud of her German heritage, and had a green thumb, supporting the entire Amish community with weekly visits to their nurseries during planting season. She also loved collecting authentic German-made nutcrackers and proudly displayed them all around the house at Christmas-time. Starting as a young girl, she loved collecting place settings and linens in her hope chest and continued that passion through her entire life.
Even though she lived apart from her kids, she would often watch "The Great British Baking Show," "Master Chef Junior" and favorite movies with them from afar, calling during every commercial break and texting commentary. Her greatest passion was traveling back to Germany to visit relatives and the Alps, reveling at God's masterpiece.
While in short remission from her first bout with cancer, Connie was able to fully enjoy her first grandson, Tilghman, celebrate the marriage of her daughter, Ashley, and hold her second grandson, Noah, the night he was born. She desperately wanted to be with us to witness the birth of her third grandson, due in March, but God had other plans for her. She loved her husband deeply, and in her last hours, she told her kids that he was the best husband and nurse she could have ever asked for during her battle with cancer, often spending sleepless nights with her to bring her constant comfort. Her Shih Tzus, Merlin and Paprika, also never left her side.
Connie is survived by her husband of 39 years, Robert; their daughter, Ashley, her husband Steve, and their 4-month-old son, Noah; their son, Michael, his wife Lauren, their 2-year-old son, Tilghman, and their baby-to-be. She is also survived by her mother, Anneliese Cieslik; her brother, Ricky Cieslik; her mother-in-law, Gertrude Barnas; her brothers-in-law, Ken (Luanne) and Rick, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Albert Cieslik, and her father-in-law, Bengt Barnas.
Visitation will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (201 St Mary's Ave, La Plata, MD 20646) on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., with prayers and eulogy starting at 7 p.m.
The funeral mass will begin at 10 a.m. January 15, 2025, also at Sacred Heart, with burial immediately thereafter at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. A reception will follow in the Friendship Room at Sacred Heart.
If you wish to make a charitable contribution in Connie's honor, please donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, her absolute favorite charity.